Game 81 Preview: Penguins Host Islanders

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 9, 03:21 PM | Hype this story!
New York Islanders
Series – 5 GP
W L OTL Pts.
1 3 1 3
 
Pittsburgh Penguins
Series – 5 GP
Pts. W L OTL
9 4 0 1

7:30 at Mellon Arena
TV: FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: WXDX Radio, FM 105.9
Probable Goalies: Garon (Pit), MacDonald (NYI)

 
Inside The Game

All’s well in Pittsburgh now that the playoffs are clinched.  With Mathieu Garon replacing Marc-Andre Fleury in goal, Phillipe Boucher replacing Hal Gill on defense, and Craig Adams replacing Max Talbot on the fourth line, a win would be great, but certainly not necessary.

Projected Lines…

  • Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
  • Fedotenko – Malkin – Sykora
  • Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
  • Dupuis – Adams – Godard
     
  • Orpik – Gonchar
  • Letang – Eaton
  • Boucher – Scuderi
     
  • Garon
  • Fleury

To Clinch The Playoffs…

  • Clinched playoffs April 7 with 6-4 win over the Lightning in Tampa Bay

Other Games Of Importance…

  • Montreal (7th place, 92 pts) at Boston (1st place, 112 pts)
    We don’t want the Habs catching the Pens.
  • Buffalo (10th place, 87 pts) at Carolina (5th place, 97 pts)
    It’ll be tough for the Sabres, but it would be nice to see them derail the Hurricanes, even if only for a game.
  • Philadelphia (4th place, 97 pts) at NY Rangers (8th place, 91 pts)
    How can a Penguin fan cheer for either of these Atlantic Division rivals — especially in a game that, ultimately, looks to have a very slim chance of impacting the Penguins?  A regulation win by either team would be acceptable.
  • Florida (9th place, 89 pts) at Atlanta (13th place, 74 pts)
    The Panthers can’t catch the Penguins at this point, but the could potentially jettison the Rangers.  That wouldn’t be a bad scene.
  • New Jersey (3rd place, 102 pts) at Ottawa (11th place, 82 pts)
    The Devils have won just three of their last 10 and look to be the Penguins’ first round opponent (Mirtle says there’s a 73.7% chance).  Penguin fans should be pulling for the Devils to continue their dreadful play.
 
Standings
  GP W L OTL Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 80 43 28 9 95 3, Atlantic 6, Eastern 11, NHL
Islanders 79 26 44 9 61 5, Atlantic 15, Eastern 30, NHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 255 237 17.3 82.5 24-13-3 19-15-6 7-2-1 1 win
Islanders 196 264 17.3 80.7 17-16-6 9-28-3 3-6-1 1 loss
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Islanders
Goals 34 Malkin Goals 18 Okposo
Assists 76 Malkin Assists 39 Streit
Points 110 Malkin Points 55 Streit
+/- +19 Scuderi +/- +6 Streit
PIMs 169 Godard PIMs 155 Jackman
Wins 34 Fleury Wins 14 MacDonald
GAA 2.70 Fleury GAA 2.76 Danis
Sv% .912 Fleury Sv% .914 Danis
 
Injuries/Suspensions
Penguins Injury Status
Zigomanis, IR Shoulder surgery Out for regular season
Islanders Injury Status
Comeau, IR
Hilbert, DTD
McAmmond, DTD
McLean, IR
Meyer, IR
Okposo, DTD
Sutton, IR
Hunter, IR
DiPietro, IR
Sillinger, IR		 Wrist
Ribs
Illness
Achilles’
Groin
Groin
Foot
Ankle
Knee
Hip		 Out for season
Questionable
Questionable
Out for season
Out for season
Questionable
Out for season
Out for season
Out for season
Out for season
     
Note: Info up-to-date as of 2:17 pm, Thursday, April 9, 2009.

Comments

  1. bag o' pucks

    Apr 9, 04:37 PM

    The Isles will be very grumpy tonight after suffering the worst loss in franchise history Tuesday night, a 9-0 dismemberment in Carolina. Expect a similar game that the Bolts gave Pittsburgh Tuesday, plenty of nastiness. Maybe a couple early Pens goals will take the fight out of them.

  2. bag o' pucks

    Apr 9, 04:41 PM

    Bodes, see this yet?
    http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/04/09/winter_classic_fenway/

    Next Winter Classic will be in Boston’s Fenway Park. I’ll guess Washington as the visiting opponent.

  3. Matt Bodenschatz

    Apr 9, 04:55 PM

    Bag, I would love to see the Penguins romp on the Islanders. The Isles, no doubt, will be angry, but I believe fragile, as well. A few early Penguins goals could put them back into a funk.

    I did see the Winter Classic news. I may attempt to write something this afternoon if I find the time. My guess is the Rangers or Canadiens get the nod as the Bruins opponents. But Washington would be the best decision, as the NHL needs to keep its young, talented teams in the spotlight.

  4. bag o' pucks

    Apr 9, 05:08 PM

    Those two, NYR & Mont, were the first two that came to me, as well. But I think the league may wait a year and have NYR host a game at Yankee Stadium and decide to showcase Ovechkin, Green, etc, in Boston.

  5. bag o' pucks

    Apr 9, 06:41 PM

    Word is Miro Satan has left WB/S. I presume on his way back to Pittsburgh. He’d have to clear re-entries before being eligible for post-season play and even if another club claimed him he couldn’t play in the post-season for them (such a move would only serve to prevent him for playing for Pittsburgh, and there’s little reason for that).

  6. Pens1967

    Apr 10, 02:56 PM

    Satan cleared re-entry waivers and is back with the Pens. I know Satan has taken a lot of heat from the fans and some media, but IMHO he has been a professional throughout
    and deserves a chance to play some post-season hockey with the big club.

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